Aldi air ratchet - spares?

[Jamieg285]

I've ballsed up. I bought an air ratchet wrench earlier in the year and 'filed' the reciept somewhere before testing it, and now cannot find it to use for a warranty claim.

The problem with the tool is that it doesn't turn off. It starts spinning as soon as you plug the air in, pressing the trigger speeds it up and releasing the trigger slows it down to the initial rate.

There's not a lot of info available on these, but based on generic research I figure it must be an issue in the trigger arrangement, which appears to be relatively simple to remove without disassembling the whole unit. The problem I have is if there is something that I need to replace. There's not a chance that Aldi will have the spares.

I suspect it's highly unlikely that this ratchet is unique, and is more likely to be a generic design that's branded as Workforce. That being the case, it might be that I can get spares from another supplier.

Anyone have any knowledge in this area? Have I got a chance or have I bought a nice paper weight (albeit with some usable sockets)?

 

[armalites]

To be fair those things are so cheap you will be lucky to find spares, the plunger on the trigger probably sticking, I think some tools have a spring and some may be air pressure that hold them shut. You could take it apart and have a look. They are pretty simple things.It may be as simple as a bit dirt.

Other option is wait till they have them again, buy another and take the faulty one back

 

[gordon stephenson]

In the absence of thr receipt, I would strip the trigger mechanism, The are pretty simple, I have had a few stripped. Trigger operated plunger probably sticking. A couple of minutes work should see it working again.

 

[Robotstar5]

As above, strip the trigger, the plunger probably has a burr on it stopping full stroke.

 

[Cobbler]

Have you rung the helpline? I spoke to them a while ago about a bicycle work stand that I bought & a bit was broken. I spoke to a lady with a strong Germanic accent, but perfect English who told me it might take a while as they had to get the part from the manufacturer. 3 days later the postman came down the drive with a Jiffy bag. She never asked for proof of purchase & she couldn't have been more help. It's got to be worth a try, I found the service brilliant.

Just a thought, have you tried some wd40 though the air intake?

 

[armalites]

He should be putting air tool oil in it anyway so I doubt WD40 will make any difference

 

[Cobbler]

He should be putting air tool oil in it anyway so I doubt WD40 will make any difference

I know, but costs nothing & if it's just a bit sticky it might clear it.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Before stripping blast a bit off oil up it.
I had one, at a friends place would not shut off. Pumped the oil, tried again it worked.

Oh yes and a sharp tap on the ramp.

 

[pedrobedro]

I had an Aldi air shear that broke and I contacted the spares place on the leaflet. It's somewhere in Ireland, they sent me a replacement bit and a spare one.

 

[outofthefire]

Another vote for oil, put plenty in let it sit for a bit, then blow it out repeat a few times

 

[rich r]

My Aldi air die grinder did something similar. I stripped it down and found a bit of dog hair had somehow found its way into the trigger valve. Once reassembled it's been fine for years.

However - another vote for ringing (or emailing) the helpline. I dropped a hammer on my compressor and cracked a pipe. They sent me another within a few days. I had to pay £5 for it because I broke it rather than it being a manufacturing fault - but I didn't mind as it was after all my fault.

 

[Jamieg285]

Thanks for all the replies.

Gordon and Robostar got it right. I pulled the trigger assembly out and found that the plunger was sticking. Cleaned it up with a bit of emery and finger spun a drill bit through the bore in the body and it's working properly now

 

[Wedg1e]

I had an Aldi air shear that broke and I contacted the spares place on the leaflet. It's somewhere in Ireland, they sent me a replacement bit and a spare one.

Funny, I thought they usually came to collect the scrap metal from Ireland, rather than sending more over...